New York City's war on terror won't be affected by Trump's proposed budget cuts, O'Neill says

Police Commissioner James O'Neill said he thinks Washington understands that New York City needs funding for its war on terror. (Susan Watts/New York Daily News)

The city's top cop doesn't believe President Trump's proposed federal budget cuts will affect the Big Apple's war on terror.

"It's not going to happen," NYPD Police Commissioner James O'Neill said Tuesday during an interview on WPIX 11. "I've been down to Washington a few times. I think the federal government understands that New York City is the No. 1 terror target and we need every dollar we get to make sure we keep people safe."

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Trump threatened to pull $110 million in federal terror funding from the city when he announced a list of proposed budget cuts last year.

O'Neill and Mayor de Blasio immediately pushed back, claiming the cuts would take away critical funding in the fight against terrorism.

Three terror attacks have taken place in the city in the last 16 months — the most recent on Dec. 11, when Akayed Ullah, 27, injured himself in a bungled attempt to set off a pipe bomb in a Midtown pedestrian train tunnel, officials said.

O'Neill warned if the budget cuts go through and New York loses the money, "that represents 600 cops."

Trump threatened to pull $110 million in federal terror funding from the city when he announced a list of proposed budget cuts last year. (JONATHAN ERNST/REUTERS)

"If we ever did lose that — and I don't think that's on the table — it would be really difficult for us," he said. "But again, we're the NYPD. We're a resilient organization."

O'Neill's comments came in a wide ranging interview in which he discussed the city's 5% drop in crime, building community trust, and the importance of officers wearing body cameras.

"It's an objective view of what's going on and gives people an opportunity to walk in our shoes," he said of the cameras, adding the department plans to release footage in the next few days of a Jan. 29 shooting by police in the Bronx.

In that case, cops shot and killed a man charging at them with a knife.

"It's critically important for people to see how little time these police officers have to make a decision," O'Neill said.